Nimba Patra
Azadirachta indica
Nimba Patra (Azadirachta indica) is a plant drug, also called Nimbah and Nima. Nimbolide from leaf has rapid oral absorption (Tmax ~1.5 h) but undergoes significant first-pass metabolism. Leaf polyphenols show pH-dependent absorption with better uptake in alkaline intestinal environment.
| Botanical name | Azadirachta indica |
|---|---|
| Family | Meliaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Sapindales |
| Also known as | Nimba Patra, NimbaPatra |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 3190474 · Wikidata Q170461 · NCBI Taxonomy 124943 |
| Sanskrit | निम्बः (nimbaḥ) |
|---|---|
| Hindi | नीम (nīma) |
| Tamil | வேம்பு |
Sources: efloraofindia, Azadirachta indica: Hindi "नीम (nim)"; efloraofindia, Azadirachta indica: Sanskrit "निम्ब (nimba)"; efloraofindia, Azadirachta indica: Tamil "வேம்பு (vempu)". How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2017 to 2024, 11 with a DOI.
- 3Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- 9Other clinical studies and reviews
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Nimba Patra |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Tikta | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Ruksha | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Sheeta | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Tablet, Capsule, Churna, Swarasa (fresh juice), Kwatha (decoction), Lepa (paste), Mouthwash, Toothpaste formulation
Standard Dosage: 1-3 g dried leaf powder twice daily; 10-20 mL fresh leaf juice daily; 300-500 mg standardized leaf extract twice daily
Optimal Timing: Swarasa is traditionally taken early morning on an empty stomach for blood purification. Mouthwash: after brushing, twice daily.
Storage: Fresh leaves: refrigerated 2-8 deg C. Dried powder and extracts: airtight containers, below 25 deg C, RH <55%, protected from light. Avoid metal containers due to tannin-metal complexation.
Marker Compounds: Quercetin, Nimbolide, Kaempferol, Rutin, Gallic acid, Catechin, Beta-sitosterol, Nimbanene
Synergistic Combinations
- Tulsi (antimicrobial and immunomodulatory synergy)
- Haridra (anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective)
- Guduchi (blood sugar management combination)
- Karanja Patra (dermatological combination)
- Triphala (traditional combination with neem leaf)
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses3
- 2021. Antiplasmodial, antimalarial activities and toxicity of African medicinal plants: a systematic review of literatureMalaria journal. PMID 34433465 · doi:10.1186/s12936-021-03866-0
- 2018. Nutritional strategies for psoriasis: current scientific evidence in clinical trialsEuropean review for medical and pharmacological sciences. PMID 30556896 · doi:10.26355/eurrev_201812_16554
- 2017. Effectiveness of Azadirachta indica (neem) mouthrinse in plaque and gingivitis control: a systematic reviewInternational journal of dental hygiene. PMID 26876277 · doi:10.1111/idh.12191
Other clinical studies and reviews9
- 2024. Alternative first-line malaria treatmentAnnals of African medicine. PMID 38358164 · doi:10.4103/aam.aam_35_23
- 2024. Therapeutic Applications of Neem (Azadirachta indica): A Narrative ReviewAdvances in mind-body medicine. PMID 39447127
- 2024. Botanical Briefs: Neem Oil (Azadirachta indica)Cutis. PMID 38478934 · doi:10.12788/cutis.0928
- 2024. Insights into Nimbolide molecular crosstalk and its anticancer propertiesMedical oncology (Northwood, London, England). PMID 38761317 · doi:10.1007/s12032-024-02379-5
- 2021. Azadirachta indica A. Juss. In Vivo Toxicity-An Updated ReviewMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 33419112 · doi:10.3390/molecules26020252
- 2021. Azadirachta indica A. Juss (neem) as a contraceptive: An evidence-based review on its pharmacological efficiencyPhytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. PMID 34092456 · doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153596
- 2021. Potential benefits of phytochemicals from Azadirachta indica against neurological disordersNeurochemistry international. PMID 33753160 · doi:10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105023
- 2020. Azadirachta indica A. juss, Morinda citrifolia L. and Triphala as herbal endodontic irrigants: A scoping reviewAyu. PMID 35370381 · doi:10.4103/ayu.AYU_102_20
- 2017. Neem (Azadirachta indica): towards the ideal insecticide?Natural product research. PMID 27687478 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2016.1214834
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.